WO2006101316A1

WO2006101316A1 - Touch screen apparatus for controlling elevator

Info

Publication number: WO2006101316A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000927
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Sun Son
Original assignee: Saehan Elevator Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-03-21
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-09-28
Also published as: CN101142133A; CN100590050C; JP2008532892A; KR100606198B1; KR20050039787A

Abstract

A touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator, in which internal buttons of the elevator and floor indicating data are displayed on a monitor, a touch screen is attached to the front surface of the monitor, and character and picture data are provided using characteristics of the monitor, so that passengers can conveniently use the elevator. The touch screen satisfies the manipulation of switches and indication of floors, provides various character data and picture data, and additionally provides other digital functions, which cannot be achieved by conventional apparatuses.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

TOUCH SCREEN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATOR

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an elevator, and more particularly to a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator, in which internal buttons of the elevator and floor indicating data are displayed on a monitor, a touch screen is attached to the front surface of the monitor, and character and picture data are provided using characteristics of the monitor, so that passengers can conveniently use the elevator.

[Background Art]

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional apparatus for controlling an elevator. As shown in FIG. 1, a case 8 is disposed at one side of an inner wall of an elevator. A floor direction display unit 1, an interphone speaker 2, a calling button 3, a floor selecting button 4, a door closing button 5, a door opening button 6, and a hand manipulation switch box 7 are provided on the case 8. Each of the above buttons 3, 4, 5 and 6 comprises a lamp, a switch, and a cover.

The conventional apparatus senses pressing signals from the switches of the buttons 3, 4, 5, and 6, and transfers the signals to an elevator main controller, and confirms the signals by switching the lamps on.

The floor direction display unit 1 switches bar lamps or LEDs on as output signals, thereby indicating the operating direction of the elevator and current position data of the elevator, and switches a lamp on when the elevator is under inspection or carries passengers more than the nominal riding capacity. However, the above conventional apparatus has a high probability that the switches having mechanical contact points and the lamps are out of order, poor affirmation, and different standardizations and sizes of the case according to the number of the floors of a building provided with the elevator, thus causing inconvenience in manufacturing it. Further, since the conventional apparatus various kinds of buttons, the conventional apparatus is inconveniently manufactured and has high production costs.

The conventional apparatus does not have a separate guide device installed in the elevator, except for a speaker. Accordingly, in emergency, when the old and the weak are confined in the elevator, they do not know a method for dealing with the emergency and are frightened, and thus may be exposed to the danger of a secondary accident.

[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator, which satisfies the manipulation of switches and indication of floors, provides various character data and picture data, and additionally provides other digital functions, which cannot be achieved by conventional apparatuses, through a touch screen so that passengers can conveniently use the elevator.

[Technical Solution]

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator, comprising a liquid crystal monitor display unit installed at the central portion of a box for displaying character or picture data, such as which floor the elevator is now moving past, operating data of the elevator, a current time, data regarding each floor in a building, officially announcing matters in the building, special attention matters when persons get on the elevator, and a guide manual; a touch screen input unit using a tempered glass installed on the front surface of the liquid crystal monitor display, and comprising floor buttons, a door opening button and a door closing button, buttons for adjusting the volume of an interphone speaker and the luminance and brightness of a screen of the liquid crystal monitor display unit; main and subsidiary memories for storing basic data required to control the elevator and taken moving or still pictures; a controller receiving the operation data of the elevator through an internal communication device and data from the touch screen input unit and forming a necessary picture on the liquid crystal monitor display unit, inputting and outputting data regarding the picture displayed on the liquid crystal display unit by the communication with an external device through an external communication device, and receiving an error code from an elevator main controller and displaying an error message on the liquid crystal monitor display unit and simultaneously transferring an emergency signal through the external communication device, when a problem of the elevator occurs; the external communication device connecting the liquid crystal monitor display unit to external Internet, and transferring weather data and news to passengers in real time, and connecting an interphone directly to an elevator management agency or automatically notifying the elevator management agency of whether or not the problem of the elevator occurs, in an emergency; the internal communication device inputting and outputting power source and communication data from the elevator main controller to the controller; a camera input unit comprising a monitor camera for monitoring the internal state of the elevator, and taking a still picture whenever a specific button is registered and transferring the taken picture to the subsidiary memory so that the picture is stored in the subsidiary memory; a moving picture reproducing unit for reproducing the picture data stored in the subsidiary memory or the picture data outputted from the external communication device on the liquid crystal monitor display unit by means of the control of the controller; and the interphone comprising the interphone speaker.

[Advantageous Effects]

A touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator of the present invention, which satisfies the manipulation of switches and indication of floors, provides various character data and picture data, and additionally provides other digital functions, which cannot be achieved by conventional apparatuses, through a touch screen allows passengers to conveniently use the elevator.

[Description of Drawings]

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional apparatus for controlling an elevator;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is a front view of a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the touch screen apparatus of FIG. 3.

[Best Mode]

Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the touch screen apparatus of the present invention comprises a touch screen input unit 100, a hand switch input unit 110, a main memory 120, a subsidiary memory 130, a CPU 140, a liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, an external communication device 160, an internal communication device 162, a camera input unit 170, a moving picture reproducer 180, and an interphone 190.

The ultrasonic-type touch screen input unit 100 is installed on the liquid crystal display monitor unit 150 using a tempered glass, and comprises floor buttons, a door opening button and a door closing button, buttons for briefly displaying data regarding corresponding floor, which were stored in advance, simultaneously with the pressing of the corresponding floor button for a short time, and buttons for adjusting the volume of an interphone speaker 191, which will be described later, and the luminance and the brightness of a screen of the liquid crystal monitor display unit 100.

The main memory 120 and the subsidiary memory 130 store basic data required to control the elevator, moving pictures or still pictures, which were previously taken. The CPU 140 receives operating data of the elevator through the internal communication device 162 and data from the touch screen input unit 100 and then forms a necessary picture on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, inputs and outputs data regarding the picture displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 150 by the communication with an external device through the external communication device 160, controls the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 so that the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 is switched off together with the switching-off of interior illumination when the elevator is not used for a designated time, and receives an error code from an elevator main controller, displays an error message on the liquid crystal monitor and transfers an emergency signal through the external communication device 160 when the elevator is out of order.

The liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 is installed at the central portion of a box 201, displays character or picture data, such as which floor the elevator is now moving past, the operating data of the elevator, the current time, building data regarding each floor, officially announcing matters in a building, special attention matters when persons get on the elevator, and a guide manual, briefly displays data regarding the corresponding floor, which were stored in advance, for a short time by means of the control of the CPU 140 simultaneously with the pressing of the corresponding floor button, switches a backlight on and outputs a guide message in an emergency, displays a residual time from the opening of a door of the elevator to the closing of the door when the door is opened, displays, when external buttons in directions the same as and different from the operating direction of the elevator are registered, the registration of the buttons on parts of the floor buttons, and displays a trajectory of the movement of the elevator and erases the display of the floor buttons, which the elevator has passed.

The external communication device 160, which connects the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 to external Internet, transfers weather data and news to passengers in real time, and connects the internal interphone 190 directly to an elevator management agency or automatically notifies the elevator management agency of whether or not the elevator is out of order in an emergency. The internal communication device 162 inputs and outputs power and communication data from the elevator main controller to the CPU 140.

The camera input unit 170 comprises a monitor camera 171 for monitoring the internal state of the elevator, and takes a still picture whenever a specific button is registered and transfers the taken picture to the subsidiary memory 130 so that the picture is stored in the subsidiary memory 130. The moving picture reproducer 180 reproduces data regarding a moving picture stored in the subsidiary memory 130 or data regarding a moving picture inputted from the external communication device 160 on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 by means of the control of the CPU 140. The interphone 190 comprises the interphone speaker 191.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the touch screen apparatus of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the liquid crystal monitor display unit 100 is installed at the central portion of the box 201 disposed at a designated portion of an inner wall of the elevator, and the ultrasonic-type touch screen input unit

150 using a tempered glass is installed on the front surface of the liquid crystal display monitor unit 100.

The liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 displays character or picture data, such as which floor the elevator is now moving past, the operating data of the elevator, the current time, building data regarding each floor, officially announcing matters in a building, special attention matters when persons get on the elevator, and a guide manual.

The touch screen input unit 100 comprises the floor buttons, the door opening button 103 and the door closing button 102, and the buttons for briefly displaying data of the corresponding floor, which were stored in advance, simultaneously with the pressing of the corresponding floor button for a short time, so that a person first visiting the building, such as a department store, usefully uses the displayed data. The box 201 is made of stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic. The material of the box 201 is not limited thereto.

A hand manipulation switch box 200 and the interphone speaker 191 are installed outside the touch screen input unit 100, and the monitor camera 171 for monitoring the internal state of the elevator is installed above the touch screen input unit 150.

Although a calling button 192 and the door opening button 103 may be disposed in the touch screen input unit 100, it is preferable that the calling button

192 and the door opening button 103 are disposed outside the touch screen input unit 150 from the viewpoint of characteristics of the elevator. Panels of the monitor camera 171 and the liquid crystal monitor display unit 100 are tilted at a designated angle, if necessary, so that passengers of the elevator can conveniently push the buttons and view necessary data at the most appropriate angle.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the hardware of the apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail.

The internal communication device 162 for inputting and outputting power and data from the elevator main controller is installed. The internal communication device 162 compresses input and output signals, supplied from the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, the touch screen input unit 100, the hand switch input unit 110, the interphone 190, the door opening button 103, and a voice guiding device (not shown), into digital signals, and then communicates the signals with the elevator main controller.

Although the touch screen input unit 100 of this embodiment employs an ultrasonic method, which is the most stable and resistant to impact, the touch screen input unit 100 may employ other methods. A conventional touch screen serves to receive a signal generated from each of coordinates and output the signal to a communication device.

The liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 has a limited thickness from the viewpoint of characteristics of the elevator, thus employing an LCD method. A control circuit board 202 is formed on the rear surface of the box 201 of the apparatus of the present invention.

The main memory 120, the subsidiary memory 130, such as a hard disk, the CPU 140, the external communication device 160, the internal communication device 162, and a power supply are disposed on the control circuit board 202. The control circuit board 202 independently performs calculating and storing functions required by the touch screen input unit 100 and the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150.

The control circuit board 202 serves to receive the operating data of the elevator and the coordinate data of the touch screen input unit 100 through the internal communication device 162 and form a picture required by the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150. Further, the control circuit board 202 communicates directly with an external memory and an external computer through the external communication device 160 and performs an Internet communication, thus directly accessing a mobile memory and a long-distance computer using a notebook and Internet, and inputting and outputting picture data displayed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150.

The monitor camera 171 installed above the apparatus is a digital camera. The monitor camera 171 outputs pictures to the outside, and takes a still picture whenever buttons are registered and transfers the taken picture to the subsidiary memory 130 so that the subsidiary memory 130 records the picture.

The volume of the speaker 191 and the luminance and brightness of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 are adjusted by the touch screen input unit 100 or a volume switch (not shown) installed in the hand manipulation switch box 200. In order to prevent unnecessary power consumption, the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 of the apparatus of the present invention is switched off, when the elevator is not used for a designated time or the indoor illumination is switched off, and is switched on again together with the switching-on of the indoor illumination when an external button is registered again, together with the power saving function of the conventional elevator controller.

Preferably, a software for forming a picture on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 is divided into a basic operating program and an exclusive program. The functions and effects of the above apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail, as below.

1) Anti-damage function

Buttons and floor indicating lamps of the conventional apparatus were easily damaged by impact. The apparatus of the present invention employs the ultrasonic-type touch screen input unit 100 using a specially tempered glass for protecting the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 from impact and moisture. Further, in order to increase the strength of the tempered glass, the rear surface of the tempered glass is coated with an anti-damage film.

2) Standardization of product The apparatus has the uniform standardization (size of the box) according to the total number of floors a building, in which an elevator is operated, thus reducing costs to produce and manage of related parts.

3) Simplification of circuit

In the conventional apparatus, power supply wires and input and output wires are respectively connected to lamps, switches and digital signal devices of buttons, and communication devices having various kinds for respectively transferring all signals from the buttons to an elevator main controller are required. However, since one touch screen input unit 100 and one liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 control all switches of buttons and the input and output of the buttons, the apparatus of the present invention communicates with an elevator main controller through one internal communication device 162 without any separate wire.

4) Various data supply function

Data, such as operating data of the elevator, a current time, data regarding each floor of a building, officially announcing matters in the building, special attention matters when persons get on the elevator, and a guide manual, are displayed in character and picture forms on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150. Further, simultaneously with the pressing of the corresponding floor button, data of the corresponding floor, which were registered in advance, are briefly displayed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 for a short time, so that a person first visiting the building, such as a department store, easily uses the displayed data.

5) When passengers are confined in elevator

A method for dealing with an emergency, such as when passengers are confined in an elevator, is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, and related character and picture data are continuously supplied to the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, thereby eliminating uneasiness of the passengers. Further, when the elevator is out of order due to a stoppage of electric current, an emergency lamp installed on the ceiling was conventionally switched up. However, the emergency lamp may malfunction. Accordingly, in this case, the apparatus of the present invention switches the backlight of the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 on using an emergency battery, and independently outputs guiding characters, thereby eliminating uneasiness of the passengers. 6) Rapid treatment of problems

When the elevator has a problem, the CPU 140 receives an error code from the elevator main controller and displays the content of the problem on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150. Thereby, the content of the problem of the elevator is correctly notified to an elevator management agency, thus facilitating the rapid treatment of the problem. 7) Deletion of unnecessary buttons

When an elevator is initially installed in a building, all floor buttons are installed. As occasion demands, the elevator runs every other floor or only to a designated floor. In this case, unnecessary floor buttons displayed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 can be deleted so that passengers easily know which floor the elevator runs to.

8) Screen conversion function according to operation mode

In an emergency operation (fire-fighting operation), or a manual operation by a machinery chamber, basic buttons are deleted from the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 and character data and buttons regarding the above special operation are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, thereby preventing general passengers from using the elevator and allowing fire fighters to carefully operate the elevator in the fire-fighting operation.

9) First security function When a designated floor is set as a security floor and the security floor is selected, a password input window (not shown) is created on the liquid crystal monitor input unit 150. Thus, only when a password is inputted to the password input window, the correspondent floor is registered.

10) Second security function The camera input unit 170 takes a still picture when a button is registered together with the input of picture data through the digital monitor camera 171. Then, the taken picture, time data, and data regarding the selected floor are stored in the subsidiary memory 130, and are transferred to an external computer via Internet. Thus, it is not necessary to install a separate monitor camera in the touch screen apparatus of the present invention.

11) Integration of interphone and voice guiding device

The conventional apparatus comprises only an interphone switch, and a device for guiding the operating data of an elevator by voice is separately installed on the ceiling of the elevator. However, the touch screen apparatus of the present invention digitizes all data, and thus receives data from the elevator main controller and outputs the data by voice from the interphone speaker 191, thereby providing voice data without requiring separate equipment. When a passenger touches a floor button, a voice indicating the selected floor responds so that the passenger ascertains whether or not the touched floor button is identical with a floor button wanted to be selected. 12) Door closing alarm

When the door of the elevator is opened, a residual time until the door is closed is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, thus warning passengers of the closing of the door. When the display of the residual time and the output of the door closing button 102 alternate and a passenger touches the number indicating the residual time, the number indicating the residual time becomes "0" and the door of the elevator is closed.

When the passenger touches the door opening button 103 outputted on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, the residual time until the door is closed is extended for a designated time. Accordingly, since the passenger is induced to press the door opening button 103 before the door is closed, it is possible to prevent the unnecessary operation of the door, thus exhibiting a power saving effect and facilitating the extension of the life of the elevator. 13) Passenger waiting floor indicating function

When external buttons in directions the same as and different from the operating direction of the elevator are registered, the fact is displayed on parts of the floor buttons of the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 so that passengers in the elevator know how many floors the elevator stops at until a target floor. 14) Advertising effect

Advertisements using characters and pictures are expressed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, thereby providing advertising revenue to an owner of the elevator.

15) Internet communication function The liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 is connected to Internet through the external communication device 160, and thus provides weather data and news to the passengers in real time, and connects the interphone 190 directly to the elevator managing agency when the passengers are confined in the elevator, so that the problem of the elevator is more rapidly treated. Further, whether or not the elevator has a problem is automatically notified to the elevator managing agency.

16) Various design modification function

The arrangement and design of the buttons and the floor indication of the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150 are variously modified according to user's taste, and the sizes of the buttons are varied according to frequency of usage and characteristics of a building in which the elevator is installed.

17) Mistaken registration preventing function

The conventional apparatus has a function of, after the completion of the operation of the elevator in one direction, erasing the registration of buttons in the reverse direction, but the registration of unnecessary buttons during the operation of the elevator may cause confusion of users. However, since a trajectory of the movement of the elevator is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, and the floor buttons, which the elevator has passed, are removed from the liquid crystal monitor display unit 150, the touch screen apparatus of the present invention provides pleasure to passengers, and prevents the registration of the buttons in the reverse direction of the movement of the elevator. Thus, it is possible to prevent the registration of unnecessary buttons.

Further, when several button touch signals are inputted, input times of the respectively buttons are calculated and the button touch signals, which were registered less than a designated time interval, are eliminated, thereby preventing the simultaneous registration of several buttons and thus preventing the unnecessary operation of the elevator.

18) Program amendment function

When an upgraded software having new functions is developed, a software, which was conventionally installed in the touch screen apparatus of the present invention, is upgraded so that new functions are applied to the touch screen apparatus.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[Industrial Applicability]

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator, which satisfies the manipulation of switches and indication of floors, provides various character data and picture data, and additionally provides other digital functions, which cannot be achieved by conventional apparatuses, through a touch screen so that passengers can conveniently use the elevator.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

[Claim 1 ] A touch screen apparatus for controlling an elevator, comprising: a liquid crystal monitor display unit installed at the central portion of a box for displaying character or picture data, such as which floor the elevator is now moving past, operating data of the elevator, a current time, data regarding each floor in a building, officially announcing matters in the building, special attention matters when persons get on the elevator, and a guide manual; a touch screen input unit using a tempered glass installed on the front surface of the liquid crystal monitor display, and comprising floor buttons, a door opening button and a door closing button, buttons for adjusting the volume of an interphone speaker and the luminance and brightness of a screen of the liquid crystal monitor display unit; main and subsidiary memories for storing basic data required to control the elevator and taken moving or still pictures; a controller receiving the operation data of the elevator through an internal communication device and data from the touch screen input unit and forming a necessary picture on the liquid crystal monitor display unit, inputting and outputting data regarding the picture displayed on the liquid crystal display unit by the communication with an external device through an external communication device, and receiving an error code from an elevator main controller and displaying an error message on the liquid crystal monitor display unit and simultaneously transferring an emergency signal through the external communication device, when a problem of the elevator occurs; the external communication device connecting the liquid crystal monitor display unit to external Internet, and transferring weather data and news to passengers in real time, and connecting an interphone directly to an elevator management agency or automatically notifying the elevator management agency of whether or not the problem of the elevator occurs, in an emergency; the internal communication device inputting and outputting power source and communication data from the elevator main controller to the controller; a camera input unit comprising a monitor camera for monitoring the internal state of the elevator, and taking a still picture whenever a specific button is registered and transferring the taken picture to the subsidiary memory so that the picture is stored in the subsidiary memory; a moving picture reproducing unit for reproducing the picture data stored in the subsidiary memory or the picture data outputted from the external communication device on the liquid crystal monitor display unit by means of the control of the controller; and the interphone comprising the interphone speaker.

[Claim 2] The touch screen apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the touch screen input unit is operated by an ultrasonic method.

[Claim 3] The touch screen apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller controls the liquid crystal monitor display unit so that the liquid crystal monitor display unit is switched off together with the switching-off of an indoor illumination when the elevator is not used for a designated time.

[Claim 4] The touch screen apparatus as set forth in claim I₅ wherein, simultaneously with the pressing of a corresponding floor button of the touch screen input unit, the liquid crystal monitor display unit briefly displays data of the corresponding floor, which were registered in advance, for a short time.

[Claim 5] The touch screen apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal monitor display unit switches a backlight on and outputs a guide message in an emergency, and displays a residual time from the opening of a door of the elevator to the closing of the door, when the door is opened.

[Claim 6] The touch screen apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal monitor display unit, when external buttons in directions the same as and different from the operating direction of the elevator are registered, displays the registration of the buttons on parts of the floor buttons.

[Claim 7] The touch screen apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal monitor display unit displays a trajectory of the movement of the elevator and erases the display of the floor buttons, which the elevator has passed.